JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard plans to conduct air, water and shore-side operations to meet mission requirements throughout the Arctic region from July through October 2014, and in future years to support ongoing Arctic activities.

The Coast Guard has prepared a draft environmental assessment, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, to evaluate a preferred alternative and a no-action alternative. The draft environmental assessment also provides information on possible effects on the natural and human environment from Coast Guard activities in the Arctic region.

The draft environmental assessment is available for review online at http://www.uscg.mil/D17, or copies may be requested from Mike Dombkowski, Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit Juneau, P.O. Box 21747, Juneau, Alaska, 99802-1747, by email to michael.g.dombkowski@uscg.mil or by phone at 907-463-2421. Comments on the draft environmental assessment should be submitted to Mike Dombkowski in writing or via email by May 28, 2014.

The Coast Guard is holding four public open-house meetings to discuss the draft environmental assessment covering planned Arctic operations.